Reacts: Lakers fans want more wing-depth on the roster

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Los Angeles Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This offseason was a success for the Lakers simply because they got Luka Dončić to sign a contract extension. However, that deal is more about the future, but what about the present?

The Lakers were relatively healthy last year, but were still bounced in the first round. So, a lot of improvements were needed to transition this roster from an early exit to an NBA championship.

Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka brought in center Deandre Ayton and wings Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart as his biggest additions, but is that enough? What positions do the Lakers still need to add depth to?

We asked Lakers fans this question in our latest SB Nation Reacts Poll, and nearly half of the voters think the biggest weakness on the roster for L.A. is the backup wing spot.

Yes, the Lakers added wings, but each one has a reason why they were available.

LaRavia is young, but has yet to prove he can consistently play at a high level. Smart has been on title-contending teams, but has continued to dip in production and has missed a lot of games over the past two years.

So, it’s no surprise Lakers fans would want another wing, ideally one that can be trusted to produce consistently in that spot.

Acquiring such a player is easier said than done. Every team in the NBA wants good wings, so any player in that position who can be counted on will be highly coveted.

With no elite wings available in the free agency pool at the moment, the only way to get a significant upgrade here is to make a trade.

And Pelinka will have to outbid other teams for such a player, so we’ll see if he can get that done or if either LaRavia or Smart plays well enough to ease any concerns regarding the Lakers’ wing depth.

Backup center wasn’t far behind with 39% of fans wanting to add another big to the team.

With Jaxson Hayes returning, he’s now ideally the backup center and should thrive in that spot. Sure, he had a rough postseason in a purple and gold uniform, but last year as a starter, he did well. Now that he’s a backup, it’s a more ideal role for Hayes’ skill set and he will likely thrive in that spot.

Clearly, some Lakers fans are still uneasy with Hayes as the sole backup, but the team has other options that could become permanent roster players.

Christian Koloko is back with L.A. on a two-way contract. Perhaps he performs well enough to become a realistic option at the five.

Backup guard only got 15% of the vote, which makes sense since the Lakers’ backcourt features Luka and Austin Reaves.

So, who the backup is doesn’t matter as much. Additionally, the Lakers have solid options at that position, including Gabe Vincent, Bronny James, and even Dalton Knecht.

When considering where upgrades can be made, the guard position is more of a want than a need.

As last season proved, you can make changes and dramatically alter your roster at any moment. Even as constructed, the Lakers should be a formidable team. With experts picking other teams to emerge from the Western Conference, fans can capitalize on the current lack of confidence in the Lakers by making a friendly wager on FanDuel.

While Pelinka is unlikely to make a colossal trade like he did last year to improve the Lakers, a backup or two can be added later on to help L.A. go on a run and give the Luka-LeBron James duo a legitimate shot at the title.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.